Automatic tile-delivery table



Mar. 20, 1923.

1,449,027 N. ALLEN AUTOMATIC TILE DELIVERY TABLE Original Filed July 25, 1921 Patented Mar. Ell, N923 i NEAL ALLEN, OF PITTSBURG, KANSAS.

AUTOJl/IATIG TILE-DELIVERY TABLE.

Application filed July 25, 1921, Serial No. 487,337. Renewed January 22', 1923.

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that l, Nmnannnzv, a citizen of the United States, residing at ,Bittsburg, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Tile-Delivery Tables, of which the following: is a complete specification.

This invention relates to automatic tile delivery apparatus, and more especially to apparatus for rapidly and eiiicicntly transferring raw or unbaked tile from a horizontal position on a delivery table to an upright position on a traveling conveyor with out deforming the lower end of the tile, :1 further object being to accomplish the result mentioned and smooth each tile at the edges thereof which the cutting device enters and leaves in severing the tile from the tile column.

Heretofore, it has been customary to either remove each tile by hand from the delivery table-2L slow process-or permit the tile to be delivered without restraint, by

the delivery table, onto a conveyor, this last method being objectionable as in such de-' livery it almost invariably occurs that the tile is slightly mashed or deformed by compression of the edge or corner which first contacts with the conveyor, that contact taking place with an appreciable though not noticeable force. More specifically, my object is to produce means for applying a yielding pressure on the end of each tile to eliminate material raggedness at such endas it begins its downward movement, and gradually shift such pressure along: the face of the tile-to insure its retention flatly and immovably against the table as the latter makes its downward turn,-and finally ap ply a so-called wiping pressure around the corner at the junction of the rear end and the face above referred to, this final action being completed as the tile is deposited squarely on end upon the conveyor.

With the oh'ccts mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood. reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: t

Figure 1 is a section on the line l-l of Figure 2, and discloses the invention in conjunction with the delivery end of a dc livery table and a traveling conveyor.

Figure 2 a fragmentary plan view of the construction disclosed by Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the same character as Figure 1, but showing certain parts in slightly difierent relation to the corresponding parts in Figure 1.

In the saiddrawing where like characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates the sides of a framework of a traveling; table to which motion is continuously imparted by a moving horizontal column 0 of clay, such column as usual, being externally longitudinally fluted and provided with a central partition, though the character of the tile is of no importance in this connection. ing continuously forward, is engaged by a cutter, not shown, at regular intervals, 0 representing; the line upon which the column is out or severed to produce the tile T.

The delivery table consists of a series of sections 2 which correspond in length with the tiles, and are connected together at their inner sides by one or more canvas or other flexible bolts 3. At its delivery end the belt extends around a rotaryspider 5 mounted upon a suitably journaled shaft 4, the spider comprising two members each having three radial arms of equal length, the ends of corresponding arms being connected by trans verse rods 6. The rods are disposed apart a distance equal tothe length of the sections 2. and the arrangement is such that about the time a tile is delivered by the feeding table onto the conveyor, as hereinafter described. it is traveling: at its lowest speed. because at such time the section 2 against which the tile fits is standing); perpendicularly to an imaginary radial line extending from shaft l between the two rods 6 at such time at the ends of such section, as shown in Figure 1.

Adjacent the delivery end of the delivery table is a framework 7, having a top 8 which preferably extends upwardly and forwardly at a slight angle, and extending around said top is an endless belt or conveyor 9, mounted at its opposite ends on a pulley 10 ournaled n the framework 7 and a larger pulley 11 likewise journaled in said framework, the shaft of pulley 11 being equipped with a belt pulley 12 to which motion is transmitted by a suitable belt, not shown. By reference to the drawing it will be noted] that the upper strand of the belt rests upon the. top and is prevented thereby The column of tile movfrom sagging under the weight of more t1le.

By reference to Figures 1 and 3, it will be apparent that with no restraint placed upon the tile as the delivery table moves downward at its delivery end, each tile through the force of gravity, would tens to slide downward on the supporting section and impinge with more or less force on the underlying conveyor, and almost invariably the side of the tile in proximity to the table, would first strike the conveyor and hence be distorted under such impact.

To guard against the result lastmentioned which is undesirable the legs 13 of :lrameworlr 7 which are adjacent the table, are extended upwardly to a place considerably above the top of the tiles upon the table, and'pivoted to and between the upper ends of said legs as at 14:, is a swing-frame comprising a pair of arms 15 equipped at their lower ends with a roller 16 preferably of considerable weight and having a fabric or other compressible cover. The gravitative tendency of the roller is toward the adjacent end of the table, and to limit this swinging movement a cross rod 17 is interposed between the table and said arms.

Assuming that the table is traveling in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrow, Figure 1, it will be seen that as each tile starts downward, its front end will impinge against the roller 16 and that consequently, the latter will be swung outward slightly and gradually roll around the adjacent cornor of the tile and then along the outer face thereof until the tile attains substantiallv the position shown in Figure 1, it being noted that in thus rolling around the front corner of the tile it has a tendency to smooth out any raggedness produced in the severing of the tile from the column and that the light pressure of the weighted roller tends to hold the tile flatly against the then downwardly. moving section 2 or, the table. The raw tile, of course, a tendency to adhere to its respective section of the table but without some restraint, such that applied by said roller, it would slide downward on such inclined. section and impings on and be slightly distorted or de formed by the conveyor, it being noted by reference to Figure 3, that as the roller rounds the upper rear cornerof the tile and incidentally smooths the same at such point, the tile is deposited flatly endwise on the conveyor without any olt or ar tending to distort-or deform it, so that the tile is carried ofi by the conveyor in practically perfoot condition.

As hereinabove pointed out, the character of the spider is such that the table section and tile carried thereby is nearer to the axis of the spider at the time the tile is deposited upon the conveyor than at any other ac-e027 point in the travel of the tile, and because of this as well as because ofthe pressure ap plying roller, in conjunction therewith, it is practicable to deposit each tile endwise upon the underlying conveyor so gently that it is not injured or deformed in any respect whatever. From the conveyor worlz men remove the tiles and place them upon a truck whereby they are conveyed to the drying and baking kilns, as customary.

From the above description it will thus le apparent I have produced an automatic tile deliverv apparatus embed in the L Jr 2") "features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of. the objects of the invention and while I have illustrated and described the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that it is susceptible of modification in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction or mode of operation involved.

l/Vhat I claim is l. The combination with a traveling tile delivery table and a traveling conveyor to receive the tile from such table, the receiving end of the conveyor being adjacent the delivery end and below the plane of the upper part of the table, of means for applying yieldingpressure upon the tile to hold it flatly against the table until the front end of the tile is about to come in contact with the underlying conveyor.

9;, The combination with a traveling tile delivery table and a traveling conveyor to receive the tile from such table: the receiving end of the conveyor being adjacent the delivery end and below the plane of the upper part of the table, of means for applying yielding pressure upon the tile to hold it flatly against the table until the front end oi the tile is about to come in contact with the underlying conveyor; said yielding means moving around and against the rear corner of the tile as the latter is deposited by the table upon the conveyor.

3. The combination with a traveling tile delivery table and a traveling conveyor to receive the tile from the table. the receiving end of the conveyor being adjacent the delivery end and below the plane of the upper part of the table; of means for applying a Oil yielding; pressure on the tile toward the table in the path of travel and adapted for en- Leases? B gagement successively With the front end, upper side and rear end of each tile as the same is moved downward by the table onto the conveyor.

5. In a tile delivery apparatus, a table comprising a series of individual tile-supporting sections flexibly connected together, a rotatable spider supporting the delivery end of the table and comprising a plurality of equi-distant radial arms, and transverse rods connecting corresponding arms and adapted for engagement with the flexiblyconneeted points of the table, a traveling eonveyor disposed with its receiving end adjacent the delivery end of the table and be low the plane of the axis of the spider, and means for applying a yielding pressure tovvard the table upon each tile as the table is carrying such tile downward and depositing it upon said conveyor. V

In Witness whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

NEAL ALLEN. V 

